Reflective Practice
Reflective Practice is at the Heart of Early Relational Health
Reflection has always been a part of the human experience and holds great value in many cultures and practices. It is a lifelong developmental process influenced by past experiences, the current situation, and how a neurological system processes information. Reflection involves being curious about thoughts, feelings, and experiences that can influence ourselves and others and how these might influence our behaviors. It is a lifelong developmental process that continually increases our capacity to understand ourselves and one another.
A continuum of reflective spaces exists in the Early Relational Health ecosystem, from informal, embedded reflective practices to more formal Reflective Supervision and Consultation (RSC). When providers working with children and families are supported in building their own internal reflective capacity and engage in reflective practice on an ongoing basis, they can be more attuned and responsive and focus on well-being and healing for themselves and others.
Reflection is a Critical Thread in our Collective Work
The Center for Early Relational Health has a strong commitment to being a partner in convening and supporting reflective spaces in Washington state. As we’ve engaged in conversations and deep listening with community members and partners across our state landscape, we have heard the critical importance of reflection as a core element of healing and well-being for providers, children, families, and communities.
Reimagining Reflection for Us & Our Communities
In July 2024, the Center for Early Relational Health convened a group of reflective practitioners, mentors, and system change agents to collectively advance reflective practices across communities and systems in our state. The group conversations are facilitated by Dr. Ratnesh Nagda and will continue through the end of 2024 to focus on:
- Building and Strengthening Connections across our Washington community, bringing together individuals and organizations with a shared interest in advancing anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed supports and practices that promote well-being and healing.
- Elevating and Sharing Community Wisdom by holding a space for connection and dialogue around reflective practices that center the diverse experiences and perspectives of lived experts enriches our collective understanding of responding to provider and family needs and elevates community strengths.
- Exploring and Co-Generating Possibilities that can seed the next steps in growing and sustaining a statewide culture and practices of reflection that are embedded throughout individuals, organizations, systems, and policies in Washington.
We welcome you to share your insights, perspectives, and experience with reflective practice and what role you see it holding in our collective work. Please reach out to us to share your thoughts.
